Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: Malaria begins when an infected mosquito injects saliva containing Plasmodium sporozoites into the skin of a vertebrate host. To prevent malaria, vaccination is the most effective strategy and there is an urgent need for new strategies to enhance current pathogen-based vaccines. Active or passive immunization against a mosquito saliva protein, AgTRIO, contributes to protection against Plasmodium infection of mice. In this study, we generated an AgTRIO mRNA-lipid nanoparticle (LNP) and assessed its potential usefulness as a vaccine against malaria. Immunization of mice with an AgTRIO mRNA-LNP generated a robust humoral response, including AgTRIO IgG2a isotype antibodies that have been associated with protection. AgTRIO mRNA-LNP immunized mice exposed to Plasmodium berghei-infected mosquitoes had markedly reduced initial Plasmodium hepatic infection levels and increased survival compared to control mice. In addition, as the humoral response to AgTRIO waned over 6 months, additional mosquito bites boosted the AgTRIO IgG titers, including IgG1 and IgG2a isotypes, which offers a unique advantage compared to pathogen-based vaccines. These data will aid in the generation of future malaria vaccines that may include both pathogen and vector antigens.
Source: npj Vaccines
Institutions: Yale University, University of Pennsylvania
Language: English
Topic: Malaria Research and Control
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,490
Awards: G1513809909, G163455316, AgTRIO, a protein in mosquito saliva, influences Plasmodium sporozoite infection, G3931441304, G4224967955, G5513558019, G5788920084, Immunization with mosquito AgTRIO protein to prevent malaria, Mosquito SAMSP1 and SAMSP2 influence the initial stage of Plasmodium infection of mice, Yale Clinical and Translational Science Award
OpenAlex ID: W4379769079